Comments on: How to Plan and Deal With Unexpected Money Drains http://moneyning.com/budgeting/how-to-plan-and-deal-with-unexpected-money-drains/ A personal finance blog where we share insights on carefully saving money, investing, early retirement, mortgages, stocks because the little things matter in achieving financial freedom! Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:16:11 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Jules H. http://moneyning.com/budgeting/how-to-plan-and-deal-with-unexpected-money-drains/comment-page-1/#comment-12254 Jules H. Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:09:06 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=1758#comment-12254 Emergency funds are definitely a great cushion. I feel for you, David, with the unexpected medical bill. My car was vandalized last week and some important things stolen from inside, so my emergency fund is totally helping out right now. It's just kind of sad that my savings will go to pay for the ramifications of someone else stealing from me. I wasn't out shopping on Black Friday, but apparently someone got a good deal out of my car. Emergency funds are definitely a great cushion. I feel for you, David, with the unexpected medical bill. My car was vandalized last week and some important things stolen from inside, so my emergency fund is totally helping out right now. It’s just kind of sad that my savings will go to pay for the ramifications of someone else stealing from me. I wasn’t out shopping on Black Friday, but apparently someone got a good deal out of my car.

]]> By: Andrea http://moneyning.com/budgeting/how-to-plan-and-deal-with-unexpected-money-drains/comment-page-1/#comment-12253 Andrea Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:47:52 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=1758#comment-12253 This applies more to hospital expenses than a doctor visit ... I can't remember where I saw this, which is unfortunate because I'd like to give credit where credit is due, but for people who don't have insurance and are stuck with much higher bills than insurance companies would pay, I read a suggestion to find the amounts Medicare/Medicaid would approve for the same procedures and offer those to providers as a negotiation point. It requires getting an itemized bill from your hospital with procedure codes. And #3 on this list is usually my first course of action. Try being nice, and if that doesn't work, escalate, write letters, etc. In some ways, it's my anger management therapy. ;) This applies more to hospital expenses than a doctor visit …

I can’t remember where I saw this, which is unfortunate because I’d like to give credit where credit is due, but for people who don’t have insurance and are stuck with much higher bills than insurance companies would pay, I read a suggestion to find the amounts Medicare/Medicaid would approve for the same procedures and offer those to providers as a negotiation point. It requires getting an itemized bill from your hospital with procedure codes.

And #3 on this list is usually my first course of action. Try being nice, and if that doesn’t work, escalate, write letters, etc. In some ways, it’s my anger management therapy. ;)

]]> By: CD Rates Blog http://moneyning.com/budgeting/how-to-plan-and-deal-with-unexpected-money-drains/comment-page-1/#comment-12252 CD Rates Blog Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:44:37 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=1758#comment-12252 Wow! Your complaining about $100. This reminds me of your HENRY post a little while ago. Try $5000 in "unexpected" Dr. Bills. Thankfully the hospital allowed us to make payments, interest free. Remember, to read the fine print and know your plan. We finally switched to an HSA which really caps our Medical expenses and allows us to budget. With a family of 8, the HSA has been a lifesaver. cd :O) Wow! Your complaining about $100. This reminds me of your HENRY post a little while ago. Try $5000 in “unexpected” Dr. Bills. Thankfully the hospital allowed us to make payments, interest free.

Remember, to read the fine print and know your plan. We finally switched to an HSA which really caps our Medical expenses and allows us to budget. With a family of 8, the HSA has been a lifesaver.

cd :O)

]]> By: lulugal http://moneyning.com/budgeting/how-to-plan-and-deal-with-unexpected-money-drains/comment-page-1/#comment-12251 lulugal Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:20:00 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=1758#comment-12251 I got stuck with a bill for Anesthesia MONTHS after my surgery and countless bills. I worked it out with the hospital where they offered me a chance to pay the bill in six installments at 0% interest (after MUCH pleading). That worked for me because I could tweak my budget to find $50 every month.....instead of find the whole amount at once. I got stuck with a bill for Anesthesia MONTHS after my surgery and countless bills.

I worked it out with the hospital where they offered me a chance to pay the bill in six installments at 0% interest (after MUCH pleading). That worked for me because I could tweak my budget to find $50 every month…..instead of find the whole amount at once.

]]> By: Rick Vaughn http://moneyning.com/budgeting/how-to-plan-and-deal-with-unexpected-money-drains/comment-page-1/#comment-12245 Rick Vaughn Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:25:27 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=1758#comment-12245 Good post! An Emergency Fund certainly makes the sting of a unexpected bill not so painful. $100 is not so bad in the scheme on things. I'm sure you'll have no problem Ning. Good post!

An Emergency Fund certainly makes the sting of a unexpected bill not so painful. $100 is not so bad in the scheme on things. I’m sure you’ll have no problem Ning.

]]> By: abelle | Only in Silence http://moneyning.com/budgeting/how-to-plan-and-deal-with-unexpected-money-drains/comment-page-1/#comment-12244 abelle | Only in Silence Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:02:26 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=1758#comment-12244 I am using only one credit card since 2003. The first annual fee was waived (promo), meaning, you will start paying the annual fee on the 2nd year onwards. What I do when the annual fee is due is call the credit card company and have it waived. So since then, I haven't paid any annual/renewal fee for my card ;o) I am using only one credit card since 2003. The first annual fee was waived (promo), meaning, you will start paying the annual fee on the 2nd year onwards. What I do when the annual fee is due is call the credit card company and have it waived. So since then, I haven’t paid any annual/renewal fee for my card ;o)

]]> By: MoneyNing http://moneyning.com/budgeting/how-to-plan-and-deal-with-unexpected-money-drains/comment-page-1/#comment-12240 MoneyNing Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:23:15 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=1758#comment-12240 Craig: You might want to just call your insurance up and ask which ones are covered while which ones aren't. Craig: You might want to just call your insurance up and ask which ones are covered while which ones aren’t.

]]> By: Craig http://moneyning.com/budgeting/how-to-plan-and-deal-with-unexpected-money-drains/comment-page-1/#comment-12239 Craig Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:53:05 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=1758#comment-12239 An emergency fund is key. I have started my own fund although to be honest it also is my vacation fund. $100 unexpected fee sucks but isn't terrible. I am like you and could not live paycheck to paycheck it is too stressful. I have some doctor bills coming up and am not exactly sure what the insurance will cover, and what bills I still will need to pay. Any advice? Craig www.budgetpulse.com An emergency fund is key. I have started my own fund although to be honest it also is my vacation fund. $100 unexpected fee sucks but isn’t terrible. I am like you and could not live paycheck to paycheck it is too stressful. I have some doctor bills coming up and am not exactly sure what the insurance will cover, and what bills I still will need to pay. Any advice?

Craig
http://www.budgetpulse.com

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